Can You Say 'WAH-wey'? Low-Cost Phones Find Niche

By

Anton Troianovski

January 11, 2012

SAN DIEGO—Norma Mejia, a saleswoman at a store selling cheap cellphone service here, griped on a slow Wednesday night in October that the packed Cricket Wireless outlet across the street was taking all her customers.

The draw: a new, low-cost smartphone with a brand name no one can seem to pronounce. "They have Hawaii or whatever," Ms. Mejia said. "What is that?"